Bottle cap closure

ABSTRACT

A tab-opening bottle cap wherein the said cap is scored so that the cap is easily hand removable from a beverage container.

United States Patent 1 Vliet BOTTLE CAP CLOSURE James H. Vliet, 1104 W. Clark St., Urbana, 111. 61801 Filed: Nov. 26, 1971 Appl. No.1 202,146

Inventor:

U.S. Cl. 215/46 A, 215/42 Int. Cl B65d 43/02 Field of Search 215/46 A, 42, 39

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/ 1967 Kavalus 215/46 A 1 Nov. 27, 1973 2/1969 Brockhage 215/46 A 4/1967 Wheaton et a1. 215/46 A Primary Examiner-Ge0rge T. Hall Attorney-Raymond R. Kimpe] [57] ABSTRACT A tab-opening bottle cap wherein the said cap is scored so that the cap is easily hand removable from a beverage container.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures vAIENTEMnvm new $174.79?

SE'iEET 2 EF 2 INVENTOR.

BY 1M5; H. 1/4/57 BOTTLE CAP CLOSURE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bottle cap closures, and more particularly relates to bottle cap closures that are formed of thin lightweight metal and incorporate particular means for making said caps easily hand removable while nevertheless withstanding the normally incurred internal pressures encountered in soft drink and beer bottles.

In previous closure caps disclosedin the prior art, reliance has been placed on a pulling motion to break the seal between the cap and the container, sometimes incorporating various tear strips, or scored areas to facilitate opening. Other caps have relied on a twisting torque, and still others required a tool toimpart a prying or lifting motion to remove the closure.'All of said previous caps have obvious disadvantages which are inherent in the construction of the caps. The finger grip-strength requiredto remove some of the closure caps presently in use is not possessed by many members of the public desiring to open such bottles. Attempting -to pull the existing tear off caps has resulted in the cutting of fingers and irating abrasions to the hands which render the closure caps unacceptable to the buying public. Still other caps in the prior art require various tools which are not always readily available.

It is a purpose of this invention to provide a closure cap for bottles which is easily hand removeable by anyone possessing only a minimal amount of strength. It is a further object of this invention to'provide a closure cap which does not require a substantial pulling or twisting force to break the seal between the cap and the container to which it has been applied.

Further objects and advantages of this closure cap will become apparent upon an inspection of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view showing a closure cap embodying this invention applied to a bottle.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a closure cap blank to be used in forming the closure cap.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a modified closure cap blank using modified scoring for the tear portion of the cap.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another modification of the closure cap blank using a'further modification of scoring.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another modification of the closure cap blank utilizing different scoring of the tear area of the blank.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of yet another modification of the closure cap blank with modified scoring.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the closure cap iblank shown in FIG. 2 wherein scoring, pre-cutting and pre-tears are shown in greater detail. v

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the cap blank from the area surrounding a pre-tear.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the pre-tear taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view along line l0-l0 of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view taken along line 11--11ofFIG. 7.

The basic closure cap is shown generally at 11 in FIG. 1 applied to a conventional soft 'drink or beer bottle 10, with a depending push tab 12 extending downwardly from the skirt 13 of the closure cap. Typical crimping 14 which is well known in the art provides the means for fixing the cap onto the container.

In FIG. 2 the cap blank is shown as comprising the circular disc portion 15 which will become the top of the cap, and the skirt 13 which will be formed downwardly and incorporate the crimping to form a seal with the container. The push tab 12 includes raised ridges 16 which give rigidity along the longitudinal axis of said push tab 12. Scoring is provided as shown at 18 and 19 to thin and weaken the metal at those points and pretears are provided at 8 and 9 so that when the push tab is depressed inwardly toward the side of the container 10 the metal begins to tear at pre-tear 8 and pre-tear 9 and continues through scoring 18 and 19, releasing the circumferential tension built up in the skirt 13 by the crimping 14, and allowing the cap to be easily removed by a slight pull on the push tab 12. The pre-cut at 17 allows the push tab to be depressed with a reasonable light inward pressure to begin the tearing of the metal at 8 and 9, through the scoring 18 and 19, and to the pre-cuts at 6 and 7.

In FIG. 3, a modification of the invention is shown incorporating again the basic closure cap blank 20 and a push tab 21, but wherein the pre-cuts at 22, 23 and 24 are co-linear. When the push tab is depressed in this modification, a wider area of deformation occurs in the skirt of the cap, allowing the pre-tears 8 and 9 to cause tearing of the metal to begin more easily at 25 and 26, and continue through the scoring 27 and 28 to the precuts 22 and 24. This increased area of gap deformation makes for more easily removable caps after the initial circumferentialtension in the skirt has been broken.

FIG. 4 shows a further modification of a closure cap blank shown at 30 in which pre-tears are provided at 32 and 33, scoring is provided at 36 and 37 and pre-cuts are provided at 34 and which allow the initial tearing of the metal to begin at 32 and 33 upon depressing the push tab 31. The pre-cuts at 34 and 35 in a curvilinear pattern tend to ease the force which is required to remove the cap. This is true because said pre-cuts are in the rounded portion of the cap connecting the skirt to the top of the cap. That particular portion of the cap becomes hardened and strengthened by the working of the metal which takes place in the forming of the skirt and the pre-cuts in this area allow the increased strength existing there to be more easily overcome.

FIG. 5 is a further modification of a closure cap blank shown at in which pre-tears are provided at 42 and 43 at the juncture of the push tab 41 with the cap 40. Scoring at 46 and 47 lessens the force required to continue the tearing of the metal until the seal has been broken. The pre-cut at 48 lessens the downward force required on the push tab to begin the tearing action at 42 and 43 necessary to break the seal between the cap and the container.

FIG. 6 portrays a cap blank 50 with a push tab 51 having pre-tears at 57 and 58, scoring at 52 and 54, and pre-cuts at 53, and 56. These scored areas at 52 and 54 again reduce the amount of force required to break the seal of the cap with the container after the tearing has begun and this particular configuration of scoring and pre-cutting results in a somewhat lesser force than in previously described modifications being required for breaking said seal. The pre-cuts at 55 and 56 begin in a linear pattern and then become curvi-linear, lessening the force required to remove the cap, once the initial seal has been broken.

It will be apparent that the closure cap that has been described with the various modifications of pre-tears, scoring, and pre-cuts can be adapted to provide a secure cap capable of containing a broad range of pressures which are encountered when bottling the many different types of beverages presently available, as well as the increased pressures encountered when said beverages are agitated in transporting. Obviously further modification and variations of the cap are possible in view of the foregoing teachings and description. It is to be understood that the foregoing description is by way of illustration and for clarity and understanding and certain changes and modifications of the invention can be practiced without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A metal cap closure adapted to be secured over the opening of a container comprising a circular disc top portion, a circumferential skirt depending therefrom, a push tab extending downwardly from said skirt, said push tab having raised ridges therein along its longitudinal axis, and pre-tears adjacent to said push tab on each side thereof, pre-cuts in the area immediately adjacent to said push tab and said skirt, and scoring extending from said pre-tears upwardly through said skirt to provide points of weakness in the metal and facilitate tearing of said metal when said push tab is depressed inwardly.

2. A metal closure cap as in claim 1, wherein said pre-tears are located at each side of the juncture of the push tab with the cap, said scoring extending inwardly, then radially toward the center of said cap through said skirt, and pre-cuts extend laterally across the center most ridge in said push tab and between the outer most portion of said skirt and the top of said cap.

3. A metal closure cap as in claim 1 wherein said pretears are located adjacent to the push tab on each side thereof at the juncture with the cap, said scoring extends from the pre-tears inwardly toward the center of said push tab then upwardly toward the top of said cap, and said pre-cuts extend from the termination of said scoring in an interrupted pattern continuing upwardly therefrom toward the top of said cap, and then continuously in a curvi-linear pattern proceeding upwardly and outwardly into the rounded portion of said cap between the skirt and the top of said cap.

4. A metal closure cap as in claim 1 wherein said scoring extends inwardly from said pre-cuts toward the center of said push tab, then upwardly at an angle of approximately 45 from the base of the skirt in an interrupted pattern and then upwardly to the top of said cap, and said pre-cuts extend from the termination of said scoring upwardly to the top of said cap, and they pre-cut across the center most raised ridge in said push tab, intermediate the bottom of said skirt and the top of the cap.

5. A metal closure cap as in claim 1 wherein said scoring begins at said pre-tears, then extends inwardly and upwardly in an interrupted pattern for approximately one-third the distance from the bottom of the skirt to the top of said cap, then outwardly in said skirt to a point approximately in alignment with the outer edges of said push tab, pre-cuts extending therefrom upwardly toward the top of said cap in a substantially straight line, then outwardly in a curvi-linear pattern through the rounded portion of the said cap between the skirt and the top of said cap. 

1. A metal cap closure adapted to be secured over the opening of a container comprising a circular disc top portion, a circumferential skirt depending therefrom, a push tab extending downwardly from said skirt, said push tab having raised ridges therein along its longitudinal axis, and pre-tears adjacent to said push tab on each side thereof, pre-cuts in the area immediately adjacent to said push tab and said skirt, and scoring extending from said pre-tears upwardly through said skirt to provide points of weakness in the metal and facilitate tearing of said metal when said push tab is depressed inwardly.
 2. A metal closure cap as in claim 1, wherein said pre-tears are located at each side of the juncture of the push tab with the cap, said scoring extending inwardly, then radially toward the center of said cap through said skirt, and pre-cuts extend laterally across the center most ridge in said push tab and between the outer most portion of said skirt and the top of said cap.
 3. A metal closure cap as in claim 1 wherein said pre-tears are located adjacent to the push tab on each side thereof at the juncture with the cap, said scoring extends from the pre-tears inwardly toward the center of said push tab then upwardly toward the top of said cap, and said pre-cuts extend from the termination of said scoring in an interrupted pattern continuing upwardly therefrom toward the top of said cap, and then continuously in a curvi-linear pattern proceeding upwardly and outwardly into the rounded portion of said cap between the skirt and the top of said cap.
 4. A metal closure cap as in claim 1 wherein said scoring extends inwardly from said pre-cuts toward the center of said push tab, then upwardly at an angle of approximately 45* from the base of the skirt in an interrupted pattern and then upwardly to the top of said cap, and said pre-cuts extend from the termination of said scoring upwardly to the top of said cap, and they pre-cut across the center most raised ridge in said push tab, intermediate the bottom of said skirt and the top of the cap.
 5. A metal closure cap as in claim 1 wherein said scoring begins at said pre-tears, then extends inwardly and upwardly in an interrupted pattern for approximately one-third the distance from the bottom of the skirt to the top of said cap, then outwardly in said skirt to a point approximately in alignment with the outer edges of said push tab, pre-cuts extending therefrom upwardly toward the top of said cap in a substantially straight line, then outwardly in a curvi-linear pattern through the rounded portion of the said cap between the skirt and the top of said cap. 